Dobrý deň
Neutral Greeting
Dobrý deň means "hello" in a polite way. Use it with strangers, in shops and with anyone you call vy.
How It Works
The safe polite hello. Dobrý deň literally means "good day". It is the standard way to greet:
- people in shops, cafés and offices
- teachers, doctors, neighbours and older people
- anyone you address with vy. See ty and vy.
The other person usually answers with the same words. It also opens a phone call or a polite email: Dobrý deň, volám sa ...
Time of day. Dobrý deň works for most of the day. Early in the morning many people say Dobré ráno, and in the evening Dobrý večer. See morning and evening greetings.
Hello only. When you leave, say Dovidenia (goodbye). See saying goodbye.
Names stay in their basic form. Slovak greets people with the plain form of their name, with pán or pani before it: Dobrý deň, pán Kováč, Dobrý deň, pani Nováková, Dobrý deň, pani doktorka. Czech changes the name (pane Nováku), but Slovak does not. See pán and pani.
Pronunciation. Deň starts with a soft d because e follows, and it ends in ň: it sounds like ďeň.
Examples (5)
- Dobrý deň, pán Kováč.
Hello, Mr Kováč.
The surname keeps its basic form after pán.
- Dobrý deň, prosím si kávu.
Hello, I'd like a coffee, please.
A typical way to greet and order in a café.
- Dobrý deň, ako sa máte?
Hello, how are you?
Máte is the polite vy form that goes with Dobrý deň.
- Dobrý deň, pani doktorka.
Hello, doctor.
Pani plus a title is a polite way to greet a woman.
- Dobrý deň, volám sa Peter Novák.
Hello, my name is Peter Novák.
A polite start to a phone call or a first meeting.
Common Mistakes
Using the Czech spelling.
Dobrý den!Dobrý deň!Den is Czech. The Slovak word for day ends in ň: deň.
Changing the surname the way Czech does.
Dobrý deň, pane Nováku.Dobrý deň, pán Novák.Pane Nováku is Czech. Slovak keeps the surname in its basic form and uses pán before it: pán Novák.
Saying Dobrý deň as a goodbye.
(leaving a shop) Dobrý deň!(leaving a shop) Dovidenia!Dobrý deň is only a greeting. When you leave, say Dovidenia.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Ahoj / ČauInformal Hi and Bye
Use ahoj with friends and people you call ty.
Level 1 - Dobré ráno / Dobrý večer / Dobrú nocMorning, Evening and Night Greetings
Learn the greetings for morning, evening and night.
Level 1 - Dovidenia / Maj saSaying Goodbye
Learn the polite way to say goodbye.
Level 1 - Informal ty and Polite vy
Dobrý deň goes with the polite vy.
Level 1 - pán / paniMr and Mrs: Pán and Pani
Add pán or pani to greet someone by name.
Level 2 - Ako sa máš / Ako sa máteAsking How Someone Is
Ask how someone is after you greet them.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Dobrý deň in Bubblegum
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